By Odeisel

Big things are going on for 9th Wonder. Since the days of the Little Brother breakup, he’s been college professoring, and under the Duck Down umbrella with Jamla, label heading. His new album The Wonder Years is a taste of 9th behind the boards, on the mic (as 9th Matic) and a showcase for associated acts.

The obligatory track with Phonte (after their very public make-up is there on the very Little Brother-sounding “Band Practice.” Phonte got a fire in his belly, ripping lines, shouting out Goodfellas and sounding totally comfortable over the “oohs” and 9ths trademark drums. The first surprise of the album comes on a trip West Coast as OG Warren G and crisp performances from Murs and Kendrick Lamar lace “Enjoy.” Warren rocks hard dismissing snitches and getting paper producing while Murs cooly shouts out his history and subtle crip affiliation flipping, “Classic with these rhymes like Mike when he was blacker and you? You remind me of me when I was wacker.” Kendrick continues his streak of knockout closing verses with strong multi’s and a gritty delivery.

Tanya Morgan slides through on “Streets of Music.” Von Pea reps for the first Hip-Hop too old for the Walkman and too young for the mp3. A shoutout to the cops shutting down Biggie’s funeral makes the verse real, while partner

The lyrical highlight of the album comes with Skyzoo, Fashawn and King Mez who put “Hearing the Melody” in a bodybag. Skyzoo’s rhyme density is in full effect but Fashawn’s energy gives him an edge, as he compares himself to lesser rappers, noting,”I’m a meteorite, you n***s is mediocre.” “Loyalty” finds Masta Killa sounding like creepy stalker poetry guy. The sentiment is cool, but between the overwrought old Black man on the front porch sound of the guy on the hook, the Grand Puba Masters of Ceremony sample is wasted and the track flounders. Rapper Halo’s talk of love and fatherhood almost rescue the song on the last verse.

“Too Cool” is a middling break from the rap on the record with a piano driven beat and featured singer Mela Machinko and rapper Mez. The song isn’t good or bad and that’s the problem. There isn’t much movement in the song and. Machinko leaves it to the lyrics to move you. That’s may work in rap but not with singing. And this song doesn’t enhance the album. The West Coast again boosts the album as Terrace Martin and his saxophone. Enhance pristine lyricism from the ever crisp Talib Kweli on “Never Stop Loving You.” Kweli talks of love at first site and the thought of putting on the cape and saving her, only to realize she was a capable woman who didn’t need saving. The husky strings play tag with the sax and create some strong Hip-Hop.

Blu and Sundown are featured on “Piranhas,” taking biters to task over 9th beat X. The opening b-boy movie sample deserved more. Blu does what he can, with a focused, fundamental flow that flaunts efficiency rather than hubris in shutting down the sharks. Marsha Ambrosius does her all to sell “Peanut Butter & Jelly,” and despite an awkwardly arranged hook she manages to deliver that comfortable organic soul that has become her trademark. Terrace Martin injects some personality and flavor on “One Nightn” along with Phonte. Tiggalo chuckles at the tricks who promise big times in order to get the drawers. He notes they “take you to the mall trick some dough, buy a lot/Claim they taking you to a higher spot but steadily getting they browse on like Chrome or Firefox.” Shallah Raekwon and Big Remo interject some much-needed muscle on “No Pretending.” Chef is his Shaolin self “I’m no industry n***a that suck dick, I only write checks, get out of line, I’m striking the wick.”
Big Remo pulls up the rear and closes out with good presence and energy, if not supreme bars.

Both “Your Smile,” featuring Holly Weerd and Thee Tom Hardly, and “20 Feet Tall” suffer from unimaginative production that doesn’t allow for the vocalists to get funky with it nor the emcees to be challenged. Rapsody turns in a Bahamadia-Lite verse on the latter alongside a Badu on cruise control. Ditto Mac Miller and Heather Victoria on ” That’s Love.” There isn’t enough movement musically to make the song exciting and the rhymes are solid but unspectacular. That all changes with Terrace Martin and his brother Problem on “A Star U R,” a track full of strings that play tag with horns and pianos. Problem delivers a verse of movie allegory and living for today.

The Wonder Years is a solid album with some definite highs courtesy of the guests and a 9th Wonder up to his same old tricks, productionwise. If you’re a fan that won’t bother you but if you aren’t this album just won’t move you.
Out of 3.25 out of 5

Follow Us on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/planetill

Follow Odeisel on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/odeisel

Join Us on the Planet Ill Facebook Group for more discussion

Follow us on Networked Blogs